Clutch device.



C. H. FOX.

CLUTCH DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23| 1913- Lm.Pa1@n1ed.1u1y13,1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH 4:0,.WMHiNTON. D. c.

CHARLES H. FX, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CLUTCH DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915..

Application tiled June 23, 1913. Serial No. 775,398.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FOX, a citizenof the United States, residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Clutch Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to clutch devices adapted to the use of selfpropelled re engines or for other suitable purposes, and the objects ofmy improvements are to provide a safety device in connection with thepump shaft for cranking the shaft of the explosive engine, and toprovide simple and durable construction and assemblage of the variousparts for securing facility of operation and efficiency of action.rIhese objects may be attained in the following described manner, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation with parts broken away and part in vertical section on theaXial line of the driving shaft of a self propelled re engine embodyingmy improvements, and Fig. 2 a plan of the safety clutch connectionsbetween the driving and pump shafts.

In the drawings 1 represents the front portion of the vehicle framewhich may be supported on ground wheels in the usual manner, 2 thedriving shaft, which is preferably the crank shaft of the explosiveengine, journaled in bearing 3 and provided with concentric clutchmembers 4; and 5 having oppositely disposed teeth. A gear pump 6 of the.usual construction and supported on the frame is provided with thedriving gear 7. The discharge tube 9 is provided with the usual safetyvalve 11, and a discharge hose 12 provided with the nozzle 13 may beconnected with the valve controlled discharge opening 14. rl`he opening17 to the suction chamber is controlled by the gate valve 18 and adaptedto connect with the usual supply, or suction, hose leading from a firehydrant or cistern. Pipe 22 serves to connect the suction chamber of thepump with a source of supply (not shown).

A storage tank 19 mounted in any convenient location on the vehicle andformed with an inlet opening which may be securely closed by theremovable cover 21 communicates with the suction chamber of the pumpthrough the valve controlled connections 22 therewith.

The pump driving shaft 23 journaled and also longitudinally movable inbearings 24 and 25 in alinement with the crank shaft is formed withrectangular portions 26 and 27, and provided with a cranking pin 28, andalso with a clutch pin 29 adapted to detachably engage with the clutchmember 4. The pinion 32 in continuous engagement with gear 7 is slidablymounted or splined on the portion 26 of shaft 23. A coiled spring 33encircles shaft 23 between the collar 34 thereon and the iiXed bearing25 for automatically moving and maintaining, under a yielding pressure,said shaft longitudinally in a forward direction with the clutch pin 29out of engagement with the clutch member 4L as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A clutch member 35 slidably mounted, or splined, on the portion 27 ofshaft 23 and adapted to detachably engage with the clutch member 5movably engages with the yoke arm 36 which is adjustably secured on rod37. Said rod is slidably mounted ina fixed bearing 38 and a hand lever39 pivotally connected thereto is fulcrumed at l1 and terminates in ayoke 42 which partially encircles the spring 33 adjacent to the collar34;. Said lever serves to move the rod and yoke arm with the clutchmember 35 into engagement with the corresponding clutch member 5 fordriving the pump.

For preventing the accidental engagement of the clutch members 35 and 5during the cranking of the engine shaft in the usual manner, therearward longitudinal movement of the pump shaft against the exertion ofthe spring engages the collar thereon with the adjacent yoke andactuates the hand lever and the rod with the yoke arm to move andpositively maintain the clutch member 35 out of engagement during theengagement of the clutch pin with the clutch member Li, for turning themotor shaft by means of the usual crank being engaged with the crankingpin 28.

ln operation, upon the arrival of the vehicle at a fire, the hand leverserves to clutch the pump into operative connection with the crank shaftfor delivering the contents of the tank through the discharge hose andnozzle. After the connection of the main supply hose is made with thefire hydrant, and the gate valve is opened, the supply to the pumpautomatically changes from the tank to the supply hose. The delivery ofwater from the tank immediately upon arrival and during the timeoccupied in connecting the main hose is frequently sufics cient toextinguish the iire in its beginning. Quick action in getting even asmall amount of water on a fire is of the utmost importance. The highspeed automobiles of fire chiefs may be equipped with such emergencyapparatus to be utilized with signal advantage before the heavier andslower ire engines can arrive and get into action. Vhen the hydrantpressure is strong or when chemicals are used in the tank to developsuflicient pressure, the discharge may be directed through the by-passconnections while the pump remainsinactive.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of two shafts, con-Vcentric clutch members on the adjacent ends thereof, and means foralternately engaging corresponding said members whereby either shaft maybe rotated in the samedirection by the other.

2. The combination of a motor shaft, concentric clutch members securedthereon, a cranking shaft arranged to engage with the interior of saidmembers, a spring for moving and maintaining said shaft under a yieldingpressure out of engagement With Vmovable longitudinally in alinementwith said shaft and provided with a fixed and a movable clutch member,separate means for alternately engaging the latter members with thecorresponding teeth of the former members and positive means forpreventing the simultaneous engagement thereof.

' CHAS. H. FOX. Witnesses:

W. L. BARTH, WALTER F. Onook.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

